Purpose: To assess the efficacy of total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) for rectal carcinoma in comparison with conventional chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Methods: A systematic review was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. A Bayesian network meta-analysis was done using NetMetaXL and WinBUGS. This study was registered in PROSPERO on March 3, 2022 (No. CRD-42022307867). Results: Outcomes of 2,719 patients from 10 randomized trials between 2010 and 2022 were selected. Of these 1,191 (44%) had conventional long-course CRT (50–54 Gy) and capecitabine, 506 (18%) had induction chemotherapy followed by CRT (50–54 Gy) and capecitabine (iTNT), 230 (9%) had long-course CRT (50–54 Gy) followed by consolidation chemotherapy (cTNT), and 792 (29%) undergone modified short-course radiotherapy (25 Gy) with subsequent chemotherapy (mTNT). Total pathologic complete response (pCR) was 20% in the iTNT group, 21% in the mTNT group, 22% in the cTNT group, and 12% in the CRT group. Statistically significant difference in pCR rates was detected when comparing iTNT with CRT (odds ratio [OR], 1.76; 95% credible interval [CrI], 1.06–2.8), mTNT with CRT (OR, 1.90; 95% CrI, 1.25–2.74), and cTNT with CRT groups (OR, 2.54; 95% CrI, 1.26–5.08). No differences were found in R0 resection rates. No significant difference was found in long-term outcomes. Conclusion The early administration of systemic chemotherapy in the TNT regimen has improved short-term outcomes, though long-term results are underreported. Randomized trials with survival as the endpoint are necessary to evaluate the possible advantages of TNT modes.

Purpose: Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) is the most standardized method for the local excision of rectal neoplasms. Unfortunately, local excisions of rectal lesions by means of TEM are not completely free from undesirable functional sequela. This study was performed to evaluate the risk factors of major loss of function after TEM. Methods: Eighty-nine patients underwent TEM between 2019 and 2020. Anorectal manometry was performed before the surgery and 3, 6, and 12 months after the surgery. The quality of life (QoL) was assessed using the Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life scale. Results: The major decrease in QoL was observed in women in 3 months after the surgery in terms of lifestyle and frustration domains (3.6 and 3.64 points, respectively). In 3 months after the surgery, there was a significant decrease in resting pressure both in male and female patients (P=0.01). This difference remained significant 6 months after the surgery (P=0.01). In 12 months after the surgery, resting pressure returned to the preoperative level in most patients (P=0.50). A significant decrease in manometric parameters appeared when the surgery time is more than 55 minutes (P=0.05), the tumor localization is lower than 3 cm from the anus (P=0.03), and the tumor size is over 3 cm (P=0.001). Conclusion The most significant risk factors for the development of functional disorders after TEM are surgery time of >55 minutes, tumor localization at <3 cm from the anal verge, and tumor size of >3 cm.

Purpose: Submucosa-limited (pathological T1, pT1) colorectal cancers (CRCs) pose a continuing challenge in the choice of treatment options, which range from local excision to radical surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the morphometric and morphologic risk factors associated with regional lymph node metastasis (LNM) in pT1 CRC. Methods: We performed a histological review of patients who underwent oncological resection between 2016 and 2022. Tumor grade, budding, poorly differentiated clusters (PDCs), cancer gland rupture, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), and presence of deep submucosal invasion (DSI), as well as width, length, total area, and area of DSI, were evaluated as potential risk factors for LNM. Results: A total of 264 cases of colon and rectal carcinomas with invasion into the submucosal layer (pT1) were identified. LNM was found in 46 of the 264 cases (17.4%). All morphometric parameters, as well as DSI (P=0.330), showed no significant association with LNM. High grade adenocarcinoma (P=0.050), budding (P=0.056), and PDCs (P<0.001) were associated with LNM. In the multivariate analysis, LVI presence remained the only significant independent risk factor (odds ratio, 15.7; 95% confidence interval, 8.5–94.9; P<0.001). Conclusion The DSI of T1 CRC, as well as other morphometric parameters of submucosal tumor spread, held no predictive value in terms of LNM. LVI was the only independent risk factor of LNM.

Purpose: Colorectal anastomotic leakage (AL) is a life-threatening complication, which increases morbidity, hospital stay and cost of treatment. The aim of this study is to identify risk factors, including intraoperative indocyanine green fluorescence angiography (ICG FA), associated with the leak of stapled colorectal anastomosis. Methods: Four hundred twenty-nine consecutive patients underwent surgery between 2017 and 2019 for benign (n=10, 2.3%) or malignant (n=419, 97.7%) and rectal (n=349, 81.4%) or distal sigmoid (n=80, 18.6%) lesions with double-stapling technique reconstruction were included into retrospective study. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression of the tumor-, patient- and treatment-related risk factors of AL was performed. Results: An AL developed in 52 patients (12.1%). In multivariate analysis following variables were independently associated with AL; male sex (odds ratio [OR], 3.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.9−7.7; P<0.01), anastomosis at ≤6.5 cm from anal verge (OR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.3−7.5; P=0.01), and age of ≤62.5 years (OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.1−4.1; P=0.03). ICG FA was found as independent factor reducing colorectal AL rate (OR, 0.4; 95% CI, 0.2−0.8; P=0.02). A nomogram with high discriminative ability (concordance index, 0.81) was created. Conclusion ICG FA is a modifiable surgery-related risk factor associated with a decrease of colorectal AL rate. A suggested nomogram, which takes into consideration ICG FA, might be helpful to identify the individual risk of AL.